2.06.2012

Top 5 Surprising Ways to Clean Your House With White Vinegar

Drano, Clorox, Cascade, Windex... the list of expensive, one-use-only kitchen cleaners goes on and on. While they might promise streak-free wine glasses, spotless counter tops and unclogged drains, many of us already own a one-stop-shop wonder product that can do all this and more: White vinegar. It's cheap, available in nearly all grocery and convenience stores, and safe for use around little ones, both of the baby and canine variety. So what are the top 5 most surprising ways to use white vinegar in your kitchen and around your house? Read on and get inspired!

White Vinegar: The Wonder Cleaner

5. Vinegar + Your Laundry

Vinegar helps clean your laundry in two ways. First, spritz mustard, ketchup, tomato sauce and grass stains with a few sprays of white vinegar before your laundry cycle. The vinegar helps break down the stains so they're more easily washed out. Second, vinegar can help clean your entire washing machine, killing mold and mildew and breaking down detergent residue. Run one cup of white vinegar through a laundry cycle (without any clothes) about once a month. A clean machine = clean clothes. (Important note: NEVER combine white vinegar with chlorline bleach. It creates a toxic gas compound that can be deadly.)

4. Vinegar + Your Microwave

If your microwave walls could talk, would it share tales of explosive lasagna, overflowing oatmeal, or splattering soup? Vinegar can silence those walls for good. Put a few teaspoons of vinegar in a small bowl of water and nuke for 2-3 minutes. The vinegar helps loosen any gunk that's stuck to the walls of your microwave. Simply remove the bowl of liquid (careful, it will be hot) and wipe down any excess crud with a sponge.

3. Vinegar + Your Coffee Maker

Even if you make the same brew day-in and day-out, your coffeemaker would still appreciate a thorough cleaning. Fill your coffee maker with a water and vinegar solution (a few tablespoons of vinegar should do the trick) and let the brew run its course. The vinegar will help dissolve any coffee build-up in your machine. Note: Make sure to run fresh water through your machine before brewing your next cup o' Joe.

2. Vinegar + Your Dishwasher

Similar to laundry, vinegar can be used as a substitute to dishwashing liquid to get your dishes and glasses sparkling clean. It can also be used to get rid of lime and soap build-up that can clog your machine's "pipes." Just pour one cup of vinegar into an empty dishwasher and run through a short cycle. Your dishwasher will be (nearly) as clean as the day you bought it.

Turn the page for the #1 way to clean with white vinegar...1. Vinegar + Clogged Sink

If your kitchen sink (or bathroom sink, for that matter) is clogged, a homemade concoction of baking soda and vinegar may do the trick. Try putting 1/4 cup of baking soda down your sink, followed by 1 cup of vinegar. Warning: Make sure to cover the drain tightly as the reaction between the baking soda and vinegar is designed to violently dislodge any clogs or gunk. You want the reaction going DOWN your pipes, not UP into your sink. Remember the volcanic "eruption" project in elementary school? That was baking soda and vinegar, too. Keep your drain covered or else you'll have an eruption in your kitchen.

Here are some cleaning ideas with lemon.Combine lemon juice and salt until the mixture reaches the consistency of toothpaste. Apply this to brass, copper, or stainless-steel sinks and fixtures. Scrub gently, then rinse with water. This also removes rust stains.To avoid hiring a plumber later or pouring harmful chemicals down the drain, fix the problem before it gets worse. Loosen mineral deposits on faucets by sponging on lemon juice, letting it soak in for a while, then scrubbing off.Covering up the stink with room sprays will only create a combo smell. To remove odors from a garbage disposal, cut up a lemon, toss it in, and grind it up. Orange and lemon peels also work.